Archives for December 3, 2006

'Sources tell TSN that Ovechkin may be fined for his actions, which earned him a five-minute major and a game misconduct in Washington's 7-4 victory over Buffalo. He was tossed late in the second period, just after scoring his 17th goal of the season. Buffalo's Paul Gaustad pummelled Ovechkin, who didn't throw a punch in retaliation.'

'You visit the locker room after each game? TG: I have a tradition. If the team wins, I go down to the locker room to congratulate them. If they don't win, I don't do it. The only time I broke that rule is the final Carolina game. They showed so much heart that I could not be with them, even though they lost. I'm so proud of them.'

'Nearly two and a half years after being convicted of bank fraud and other corporate crimes, former Buffalo Sabres owner John J. Rigas and his son Timothy remain comfortably at home in Coudersport, Pa., awaiting the results of their appeal.'

‘The Capitals scored three times in the first 7:45, sending goaltender Ryan Miller to the bench for Martin Biron. It was the third consecutive game in which Washington forced an opponent to switch goalies, an NHL first this season.’

‘Buffalo made it a 6-4 game with 7:46 to play as a shot from the left circle by Drew Stafford beat Kolzig through the five-hole. However, an empty-net goal by John Erskine in the final minute of play sealed the win for the Capitals.’

‘The second period would be an eventful one, as an Alexander Ovechkin check from behind on an unaware Daniel Briere would cause multiple scrums after the play. Paul Gaustad and Adam Mair would both be thrown from the game for instigating fights and Ovechkin would get thrown out for the check from behind.’

‘”We kept coming back, but we kept making that one mistake that dug us a bigger hole,” said Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff. “It was a game we really felt we could have had if we could have tightened things up.”‘

‘”I like the way we reacted to that play,” said the Sabres head coach. “I don’t care if Gaustad gets kicked out of a game for doing what he did. He needed to do what he did, and Mair’s going to be right there behind him.”‘